West Ham United’s Issa Diop has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur.
According to TEAMtalk, Issa Diop wants to leave West Ham United this summer – and Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be leading the race.
It’s claimed that Diop wants to go, and West Ham are prepared to cash in this summer if they receive suitable bids, possibly in the region of £60million.
Everton and Manchester United are also believed to be keen, but Spurs asked in January, only to be shot down by their London rivals as they didn’t want to sell in a relegation battle.
Tottenham will almost certainly be in the market for a new centre back this summer, and Diop fits the bill despite some shaky moments during his time with the Hammers.
The Frenchman has potential to improve and develop over the coming years, and Spurs boss Jose Mourinho even called Diop a ‘monster’ after his superb display against Manchester United in 2018.
A move adds up on those levels, but Mourinho may be left hoping that the relations between Daniel Levy and the West Ham board don’t become a problem.
There have been clashes between the two clubs over the years, as noted by The Telegraph, with Levy once willing to subsidise Emmanuel Adebayor’s wages for moves to Crystal Palace or Queens Park Rangers, but refusing West Ham the same offer.
There have also been clashes over the London Stadium, with West Ham landing the stadium ahead of Spurs, and Hammers fans even felt there was no way Levy would let Kyle Walker-Peters join West Ham in January; he ended up signing for Southampton.
There’s a level of dislike that seems to go beyond a local rivalry, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see West Ham play hardball with Spurs and encourage other bidders – such as Everton or United.
If the right money is on the table, West Ham are unlikely to say no, but they may be tempted to frustrate the notoriously difficult Levy if he comes calling for Diop – and Mourinho will be hoping the history between Levy, David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady doesn’t block a move.
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